Healthy Brain Community Grant Funding

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to health.healthybrain@state.mn.us. All questions and answers will be posted on this page within seven business days. Please submit questions no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time on Oct. 18, 2024. 

• How long is this grant period?

  This Healthy Brain Community Grants RFP is designed to fund grantees over 42 months (3 year and 6 months). It follows the awarded grant cycle set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Bold Health Programs to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (CDC-RFA-DP23-0010), starting Sept. 30. The first year of this grant cycle will be 18 months. We anticipate a start date of March 3, 2025, in order to select grantees and fully execute grant agreements. 

• Is this RFP Open to researchers as well or only community organizations who provide direct services?

  Researchers may apply, but the proposed work may not include research activities, per CDC funding restrictions. Mandatory Project Requirements can be found in section 2.4 of the RFP. 

  Eligible applicants may include but are not limited to: 

  • Community-based organizations
  • Tribal governments
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Faith-based organizations 
  • Social service organizations
  • Clinics or health care organizations
  • Community Health Boards/Local Public Health
  • Local government 
  • Community Coalitions 

• What is Dementia Risk Reduction?

  Reducing modifiable risk factors that may prevent or delay dementia or slow the progression for someone already living with dementia. The Alzheimer's Association lists that potential risk factors include high blood pressure, physical activity, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, tobacco and alcohol use, diet and nutrition, sleep, sensory impairments, and social connections. For more information visit: Risk Reduction | Alzheimer's Association. 

• What is early detection of dementia?

  The BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence Early Detection of Dementia defines early detection of dementia as "identifying the problem when it is affecting a person's life - before a crisis occurs." For more information, visit their website: Early Detection of Dementia | Bold Center of Excellence on Caregiving. 

• What is caregiver support?

  For this funding opportunity, the term caregiver or care partners refers to anyone providing any grade of care for another person, whether paid or unpaid, professional trained or not. The Rosalyn Carter Institute for caregivers adds, "Too often we hear caregivers describe themselves as 'just' a daughter, husband, friend, or neighbor. If you provide support [for] such errands as grocery shopping, wound care and prescription management, or cooking, cleaning, and personal care at home - you are a caregiver and you deserve to be seen and supported." Visit the Rosalyn Carter Insititute for more information on caregiving. 

• How many grants will be awarded?

  Up to four applicants will be awarded.

• What is the award range for each organization?

  Each organization can ask up to $20,000 per year. The maximum award for each organization for the 3.5-year grant period is $60,000.

• What is the reporting requirement?

  Grantees are required to submit two reports each grant year: one mid-year report due six months after the grant period begins and one final report due at the end of each grant year. For more information on specific dates, please see the Healthy Brain Community Grants RFP page 15. 

• What is the Activity Tracker and how often is it due?

  The Activity Tracker is a spreadsheet designed to help grantees track their progress and activities. MDH staff will demonstrate how to use the Activity Tracker and provide grantees with the template. Activity Trackers are due two times in one grant year; they are due at the same time as the mid-year and final reports. 

• Should the budget include all three years or just the first year?

  Using the budget template, please only submit the budget for the first year. The budget period for the first year should be from March 3, 2025 - Sept. 29, 2026.

• Do we need to submit a budget for all three years?

  You do not need to submit a budget for years 2 and 3 with this application. MDH staff will work with grantees on the budget for years 2 and 3. 

• Is there a match requirement?

  No, there is no match requirement.

• Are you focusing on innovative and cutting-edge solutions or just education for people living with dementia, caregivers, and providers?

  We encourage applicants to submit innovative and creative activities and solutions that address the needs of the communities they work with and serve. The proposed activities should include ways to learn and talk about risk reduction, early detection and diagnosis, and caregiver support.

• If we wanted to work in a specific part of Minnesota and the full state, do we submit an application for each part of Minnesota we want to work?

  Lead organizations can only submit one application. Organizations that are not listed as the lead organization can be listed as partner organizations on more than one application. If you are the lead organization on one application, you may be listed as a partner organization on a different application.

• What are care services?

  Care services refer to home care services that include assistance with tasks of daily living as bathing, cooking, cleaning etc.

• Can we use grant funds to focus on actual delivery of care services to people living with dementia?

  Funds may not be used to pay people to provide or deliver direct care services for people living with dementia or respite care. Funds may be used to support educational programming or programming that address dementia risk factors for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Educational programming should include aspects of risk reduction, early detection and diagnosis or caregiver support. For more information on modifiable dementia risk factors see The Lancet article here, Dementia Prevention, intervention, and care.

  Examples of appropriate use of funds includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Dementia friendly trainings for staff and caregivers
  • Training for evidence-based programs that support caregiver health and wellbeing
  • Staff time to develop a referral system
  • Staff time to establish a caregiver health and wellbeing program

• Is it possible to front-load the budget with the total if the startup needs more support?

  No, grantees may not front-load the budget. The maximum budget for each year is $20,000.

• Can we use grant funding to pay for speakers for a community brain health workshop that is free to the public?

  Yes, funding can be used to compensate and sub-contract professional, academic and community experts and speakers for brain health events hosted by the organization. Any funds used for this purpose cannot exceed $500/year for each speaker and will have to be included in the budget and approved by MDH staff.

• Who do I contact for questions?

  Please direct questions to health.healthybrain@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5400 and leave a message for the "Aging and Healthy Communities Unit".